Obituary
Jerry celebrated sixty years in legal practice as a patent attorney. He was a high school graduate of Van Steuben High School, college graduate of Purdue University, and received multiple law degrees from John Marshall Law School. He was admitted to the Bar on May 23, 1963. During his career as an intellectual property attorney, he helped a multitude of individual inventors and corporations obtain patents, registered trademarks and copyrights. Before pursuing his legal career, Jerry was in the National Guard and served his country with honor.
He also served the local legal community as a member and ultimately president of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers and North Suburban Bar Association. Additionally, through the Midtown Educational Foundation Lawyers-Lend-A-Hand, Jerry tutored boys in 4th to 6th grades and was awarded the “Making a Difference Award” in 2011 for his contributions to the group.
He retired in 2008 and quickly transitioned to the second phase of life: retirement! In his later years he pursued his love of sailing, obtained an amateur radio operator’s license, and belonged to amateur radio clubs in Illinois and Wisconsin. He continued tutoring and enjoyed weekly lunches with his friends from high school and separate lunches with his fraternity brothers. Retirement also included lots of travel, visiting family and accompanying his friends Steve and Leisa on their adventures. Jerry’s retirement also allowed him additional time to devote to the Loop Synagogue where he served on the Board and was a regular attendee of daily services helping complete a minyan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Friends of Magen David Adom (www.afmda.org) and the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (www.isjl.org). Chapel services are on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois. For more information on the service and/or shiva, or to leave condolences, please refer to www.shalommemorial.org or call 847/255-3520.
Service Information
Service : Tuesday, August 20th at 2:30 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home
Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights
Guest Book & Memories
Share your memories and photographs below.
August 22nd, 2024
I worked with Gerry in the patent department for about 10 years.
He was intelligent compassionate and a mensch.
May his memory be for a blessing.
~Annette Suritz
~Friend, Vernon Hills, Il
August 19th, 2024
I worked with Jerry for over 20 years and considered him a mensh.
~Bob Breisblatt
~Former partner at Welsh & Katz, LTD, Glencoe Ill
Guest Book and Memories
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